Snap-switch.



A. HOLZNAUER, In,

SNAP swncn.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 23; 19W.

ma wm D Patented July 3 1917.

ATTORNEY ALOIS HOLZHAUER, JR., 0F WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN.

SNAIE-SWITCH.

eeann.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented .nn atom.

Application filed January 23, 1917. Serial No. 144,001.

To all whom it may concern: k

Be it known that I, Anors HOLZHAU'EB, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Wauwatosa, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in snap switches and has particular applica tion to the key snap switches employed in connection with electric lamp receptacles.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a snap switch of the class described wherein the key shaft will be removably mounted in the switch struc--.

ture so that in the event of the breaking of the key the shaft may be detached from the switch structure and a new key shaft inserted in place of the, old one, thereby eliminating the necessity of destroying the entire receptacle, as is now done when a key is mutilated.

IVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter set forth and falling within the sec e of the claim.

n the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a key snap switch, constructed in accordance wlth the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the key and shaft.

Referring now to the drawings'in detail, 1 designates a snap switch receptacle. of any usual or preferred construction and comprlsing a body formed of a disk-like section 2 of insulating material and a similar section 3 placed in face to face contact with Fig. 2 and secured thereto. The section 3 is recessed at diametrically opposite points, as at 4, and interposed between the sections 2 and '3 and held in position by the securing means of said section is the central member of a substantially U-shaped supporting yoke 5. The legs of the yoke 5 ex tend into the recesses 4 and are formed with bearingppenings 6, that aline axially with each other and with a transverse" bore 7 formed in the section 3. One leg of the yoke 5 is equipped with a binding post 8 that is adapted to be connected to one side of the supply circuit. 'Fastened to the section? at a point between the recesses d is a drip 9.

One end of the strip 9 is bent in under the section 3 and terminates at the center of such section to form a contact 11, and formed integrally with such bent portion of the strip is a laterally projecting finger 12 that extends across one of the recesses 4. Extending through the bore 7 and loosely journaled in the openings 6 in the legs of the supporting yoke 5 is a key shaft 13 having one end equipped with a key 14 of insulating material. Loosely mounted upon the end of the shaft 13 above the finger 12 is a block 15 having one-side cut out as at 16 and extending thrgugh the shaft is a strip 17 arranged within the space defined by the cut out portion 16 of the block 15 and having the ends projecting beyond the shaft at diametrically opposite points and adapted to engage the edges of the cut out portion 16 upon the rotation of the shaft 13. Seated in a recess formed in the block 2 is a spring 18 whose free end is adapted to be engaged.

by one end of the block 15 as the latter is turned by the shaft 13, so that the block may be snapped into and out of engagement with the finger 12. Secured to the lower end of the section 3 is a shell 19 into which the lamp bulb may be threaded, and this shell 19 is electrically connected witha stri 20 secured to the section 3 and equipped with a binding post 21 adapted to be connected to the other side of the circuit.

In accordance with my. invention, the key shaft 13 is formed with an annular groove 22, and secured to the yoke 5 is one end of a leaf spring 23, and the other end of the spring 23 is formed to engage in the groove 22 in order to hold the key shaft against lateral movement in its bearings.

In practice, when the key shaft'is turned under the action of the key 14 to engage the block 15 with the finger 12, the circuit is closed through the lamp in the usual manner, while when the shaft is rotated to disengage the block from said finger, the lamp circuit is broken.

When it is desired'to remove the key shaft it is only necessary to disengage the leaf spring 23 from the groove 22, thereby releasing the shaft. The shaft may now be drawn out of the bearing openings 6 and the bore 7, so that a new shaft and key may besubstituted. v

While I have herein shown and described the preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I desire it, to beunderstood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made Within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim In a snap switch, a U-shaped supporting yoke adapted to be connected to one side of the circuit, a shell adapted to be connected to the other side of the circuit, a key shaft journaled in the legs of said yoke and adapted to be removed therefrom, a block adapted to electrically connect said shell and yoke, said shaft being formed with an an- 15 nular groove, and a leaf spring carried by said yoke. and engageable in said groove to hold said shaft normally against removal from said yoke.

In testimony whereof I afii'x my signature. 20

ALOIS HOLZHAUER, J R. 

